Contingency leadership

Contingency theories of leadership are powerful. Leaders find themselves in variety of situations that are much too complex to be addressed by one-size-fits-all solutions. Therefore, an effective leader must adjust his actions to fit the situation. Adaptation of leader behavior to fit the situation is the basis of contingency theory. Some refer to this adaptation as “situational leadership” which is reasonable, but somewhat inaccurate since that term has been adopted to refer to one particular contingency theory.

One of the worst things a leader can do is to adapt ethical standards to situations to avoid acting in integrity. This will undermine trust and destroy the leader’s influence. But adapting leadership style to fit a situation is very different. What leader would treat an intern the same as a seasoned professional. Either he will overwhelm the intern or annoy the professional with senseless hovering and micromanagement. In a crisis a leader may give crisp orders with an expectation of unquestioning obedience. Buy if he tries to operate in this mode every day, he will likely find most reluctant follower (or perhaps no followers).

A good leader will adjust leadership style to accommodate many factors including:

• the maturity of the individual or team being led
• the quality of the relationships in the team or organization
• the structure of the task performed
• the intrinsic motivation of the team or organization members

A love leader applies contingency theory. To refuse to take the effort to determine an appropriate leadership style for each situation is not love; it is indifference.

History of Contingency Theories of Leadership (Wikipedia article)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Contingency_Theories_of_Leadership#Contingency_Theories_of_Leadership

Explores beginning evolution of the Love Leadership and Prophet, Priest, and King Leadership Theories.

Spiritual application of leadership

Most successful leadership principles are consistent with Biblical principles. This is not surprising since the Bible is the most time tested human relations manual in the western world. Many businesses and organizations have come to understand that the application of these principles increases quality, financial performance, job satisfaction, and a host of business metrics. However, the business application of these principles is often taught and practiced in isolation from its spiritual significance. Love Leadership is about returning a Biblical spirit to the practice of leadership principles. It is about learning to apply those principles in the spirit of God—the spirit of love.

The Realm of the Priest in Prophet, Priest, and King leadership.

The priest is the center of relationship. This includes strengths in communication and motivation. He is the most interested in increasing the intrinsic value of people, not just their value to the organization. He is interested in developing character and changing attitudes to enthusiastic confidence. The love leader fosters opportunities for the Holy Spirit to move in the organization. He is also very interested in developing and improving relationships between team members. The love leader fosters spiritual illumination. The goals of the priest are to ensure that every member of the organization is:

1. Motivated to work toward both organizational and personal vision.
2.Fully equipped for this work.
3.In right relationship with other members of this organization.
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But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 1: 7

Three Realms of Leadership

The Realm of the Prophet

The prophet leads the development of the vision for the team. This does not necessarily mean that he develops vision in a vacuum. Others are involved, but the prophet leads. As the vision is developed, the prophet also leads the development of plans to bring the vision to pass. Again, he involves the team. When the team is involved in the development of a plan, they take ownership of the plan. Everyone is more enthusiastic and committed to his or her own vision and plan than to someone else’s. The prophet is greatly interested in team members understanding where the team is going and why. JB 2008

The Emergence of Love Leadership: A Working Model is available on Amazon Kindle.

The Love Leadership Style

(The Emergence of Love Leadership: A Working Model by Jeff and Kim Booher is available on amazon and loveleadership.org)

Love Leadership is Never-fail Leadership

Love never fails! Everyone who prophecies will stop, and unknown languages will no longer be spoken. All that we know will be forgotten.
I Corinthians 13:8 CEV

Because Love Leadership is based on agape love, we know many of the characteristics based on I Corinthians 13 and the many other scriptures that teach agape love. There we find that Love never fails, therefore, leadership based on love is never-fail leadership.

Ancient Greek, the language of the New Testament, included several words for love, but the Bible primarily uses two: agape and phileo. Phileo love is based on a “like” for the other person, perhaps because of the common interests, mutual respect, etc. Phileo is the highest form of love that can be practiced by the natural man. Agape love is the God kind of love of Romans 5:8,”But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

God did not limit His agape love to those He found easy to like. Phileo love springs from friendly relationships. Agape love springs from covenant relationships. Love leadership operates in agape love.

The Emergence of Love Leadership: a Working Model.

Our book is now available on Amazon.com.

Love Leadership is never-fail leadership. If there is a failure in how we conduct our lives, family, or business—and there have been many—it is due to a love failure on our part. We could write numerous books on all of our shortcomings, but that would be a discredit to the victories that have come through our knowledge of Christ Jesus. Like you, we are often reminded of our failures as we too have to resist the “accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10).

We are writing The Emergence of Love Leadership; A Working Model to share revelation that will build up the Body of Christ. We write knowing that aspects of Love Leadership are now practiced in numerous ministries and Christian businesses around the world. However, we are also aware that the world does not see the church demonstrating the standard of love that Jesus set in John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Not only should Christians be leading the church in love, we should be leading the world in love.

We desire to convey the message of the Love of God in leadership; whether that leadership role is in the family, business, or the church. God is Love (I John 4:8). He never fails. He is the first and greatest Love Leader. Jesus is the true image of the invisible God. He showed us Who the Love Leader is and how He acts.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18

Jeff and Kim Booher

www.loveleadership.org  2009

If There is Strife, is it God?

For decades now, the conscious learning of leadership techniques has been one of the most popular topics in management training. Most large corporations provide leadership training for their executives and supervisors, thus demonstrating the belief that correct application of leadership principles increases business effectiveness. The great majority of these leadership principles are consistent with and most are based on the principles of the Word of God. This is partly attributable to the fact that many of the most respected names in leadership development are Christians. Consider Kenneth Blanchard (author of the One Minute Manager and developer of Situational Leadership), Robert Greenleaf (initial developer of Servant Leadership), and John Maxwell (author of the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership). Unfortunately, many Christian ministries have been slow to adopt the Biblical principles that are yielding so much fruit in the business realm. Much of the church continues to lead by a strongly directive model. This results in few leaders who become overwhelmed with the activity of micromanagement under the auspices of striving for excellence. It also results in church workers who are fearful to step out in a way directed by the Holy Spirit rather than the pastor. If church work is done in strife, is it really God? 2008

www.loveleadership.org

Focus Matters

I have heard some leadership speakers convey the idea that it is best to embrace your failures so you may, eventually, conquer your failures.

That idea is a damaging line of thought.

Hebrews 12:2 amp
Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

To embrace failure is to continue to experience failure. An example of this presented itself while I was riding in the Multiple Sclerosis 150 in Fort Worth this year. A couple I know was on a tandem bike in front of my husband and me. They had a good start and were cruising along when I heard the wife on the back shout, “Watch out for the cracks in the road!” Just a moment later I saw the front tire of their bike lodge into a crack, and they landed on the curb very abruptly. They were still locked into the pedals and so the impact was even more agonizing for them as they struggled to get free. The wife screamed, “I told you to watch out for the cracks in the road!” The husband replied, “I was, and that’s why we hit one!!” He knew his focus was wrong.

Jesus despised and ignored the agony and shame of the cross and focused on the prize that was to come…victory over sin, death and the grave. In leadership, it is best to overcome failures and shame by examining the problem and resolving the problem. Shifting the focus to the next potential success helps to keep you on a road to victory. KCB 2009

www.loveleadership.org

Holy Spirit led Leadership

The concept of allowing the Holy Spirit to enhance the leadership principles taught to the secular business world gives rise to a new model of leadership that operates in the highest form of love; it is expounded in the Bible and is thereby called Love Leadership.